GCSE Biology Quiz - Unit 1 - Reflexes (Questions)

The nervous system allows an organism to react to its surroundings and coordinate its behaviour, improving its
chances of survival. This GCSE Biology quiz takes a closer look at reflexes - the most primitive, yet fundamental,
automatic response mechanism.

Our reflexes allow us to take action without thinking, but how? Well, the mechanism works like this - in a reflex
reaction, a stimulus is received by receptors and an automatic, rapid response is generated by the central nervous
system without the involvement of the brain. In situations where there is a danger to the body, reflex actions can
save precious fractions of a second.

This is achieved through what is termed a reflex arc. A reflex arc begins with a receptor. This passes a signal to a
sensory neuron that connects to the spinal cord. In the spinal cord, a relay neuron sends the signal directly to a
motor neuron. The motor neuron connects to an effector which is generally a muscle so that the body can respond.
The relay neuron also sends a signal to the brain so that you are aware of what is happening.

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Two common examples of reflex actions are taking your hand away from something sharp and the iris of an eye
changing the size of the pupil. In the first example, receptors detect the sharp object cutting into the skin. The signal
travels rapidly through a reflex arc and the part of the body touching the sharp object (e.g. your hand if you
accidentally get hold of a rose bush or bramble) rapidly releases the object or moves the body away. Fractions of a
second saved here could be crucial - just imagine if the sharp object is entering the body near to one of your main
arteries ...

In the second example above, too much light entering the eye could seriously damage it, so it is important for any
animal to be able to limit the amount of light entering. This is done using the coloured muscle called the iris.
Receptors in the eye are the starting point for a reflex arc that relaxes or contracts the iris, regulating the size of the
pupil and therefore controlling the amount of light reaching the easily damaged light receptors of the retina.

Fast reflexes can make all the difference, but don't worry - you wont need them to play this quiz on our automatic
response mechanism!

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1. A reflex arc consists of a chain of which type of 2. The first cell in the reflex is which type of neuron?
cells? [ ] Motor
[ ] Brain [ ] Relay
[ ] Neurons [ ] Sensory
[ ] Muscle [ ] Intermediate
[ ] Liver

3. The last cell in the reflex is which type of neuron? 4. The synapse between the sensory and relay
[ ] Motor neurones is within which part of the body?
[ ] Sensory [ ] The brain
[ ] Intermediate [ ] The heart
[ ] Relay [ ] The spinal cord
[ ] The muscles

5. Which of the following is an example of an effector? 6. What is the correct order of the reflex arc?
[ ] The heart [ ] Motor - relay - sensory
[ ] The liver [ ] Sensory - motor - relay
[ ] The kidneys [ ] Sensory - relay - motor
[ ] The muscles [ ] Relay - sensory - motor

7. What is the name for the connection between two 8. Which of the following is not true of reflexes?
nerve cells? [ ] Faster than hormonal responses
[ ] Junction [ ] Brain not involved
[ ] Synapse [ ] Act for a short time
[ ] Gap [ ] Brain involved
[ ] Transmitter

9. If the effector is a gland, what would the response 10. Your hand touches a hot object. What is the reflex
be? response?
[ ] A release of blood [ ] To grab hold of the object
[ ] The release of a hormone [ ] To throw the object
[ ] A muscle contraction [ ] To move the hand away swiftly
[ ] A muscle expansion [ ] To think about what to do

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GCSE Biology Quiz - Unit 1 - Reflexes (Answers)
1. A reflex arc consists of a chain of which type of 2. The first cell in the reflex is which type of neuron?
cells? [ ] Motor
[ ] Brain [ ] Relay
[ x ] Neurons [ x ] Sensory
[ ] Muscle [ ] Intermediate
[ ] Liver These detect stimuli
Nerve cells are called neurons (sometimes spelt with an 'e'
as neurones)

3. The last cell in the reflex is which type of neuron? 4. The synapse between the sensory and relay
[ x ] Motor neurones is within which part of the body?
[ ] Sensory [ ] The brain
[ ] Intermediate [ ] The heart
[ ] Relay [ x ] The spinal cord
Also called an effector as it makes the body do something [ ] The muscles
The bundle of neurons in the spinal cord is referred to as the
central nervous system

5. Which of the following is an example of an effector? 6. What is the correct order of the reflex arc?
[ ] The heart [ ] Motor - relay - sensory
[ ] The liver [ ] Sensory - motor - relay
[ ] The kidneys [ x ] Sensory - relay - motor
[ x ] The muscles [ ] Relay - sensory - motor
Effectors are the output organs for reflexes and they include The brain is not involved, although the relay neuron does
both muscles and glands send a message to the brain so that the animal is aware of
what is happening

7. What is the name for the connection between two 8. Which of the following is not true of reflexes?
nerve cells? [ ] Faster than hormonal responses
[ ] Junction [ ] Brain not involved
[ x ] Synapse [ ] Act for a short time
[ ] Gap [ x ] Brain involved
[ ] Transmitter Although there is a connection to the brain, the nerve
The nerve impulse is usually transmitted from neuron to impulses that cause the reflex pass only through the central
neuron by a chemical nervous system. Going through the brain would slow things
down

9. If the effector is a gland, what would the response 10. Your hand touches a hot object. What is the reflex
be? response?
[ ] A release of blood [ ] To grab hold of the object
[ x ] The release of a hormone [ ] To throw the object
[ ] A muscle contraction [ x ] To move the hand away swiftly
[ ] A muscle expansion [ ] To think about what to do
Glands are part of the endocrine system and are where Reflexes are very fast and do not involve thinking. This
hormones are produced protects the organism from dangers such as a hot object

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